Freckles or Ephelids

What are Freckles?

Caused by the sun, freckles are small spots on the skin. They develop after repeated sun exposure.  They are normally found on the face and do not cause health issues. They are very common and are seen many times in the summer, especially in those with lighter skin tones or those with red or light hair, although anyone with different skin and hair colours can have them. Freckles can also be genetic.  The word freckle comes from the Middle English word freken, which actually came from the Old Norse freknur, meaning freckled.

What causes Freckles?

Freckles are caused by exposure to sunlight due to heavily concentrated forms of melanin, as well as inheriting them genetically. Melanin is responsible for the dark pigment of the skin. Freckles will always be darker than the surrounding skin, due to the melanin levels. While freckles are not a skin disorder, people with freckles do have a lower concentration of photoprotective melanin. This will make the skin more susceptible to the harmful UV rays that the sun produces. One can avoid the formation of freckles by wearing a quality SPF. Avoid being in the sunlight during the peak sunlight hours, which is 10 am to 4 pm. Covering the body with protective clothing, such as a wide brimmed hat and long sleeves, can also aid in preventing freckles from forming. Should you already have freckles, applying sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 and wearing protective clothing, as well as avoid sunlight during the peak hours, could assist in reducing the appearance of freckles.

The two types of Freckles

There are two forms of freckles, simple freckles and sunburn freckles. Simple freckles, which are also called ephelides, are small in size, usually about the size of a nail head. They are basically harmless and will show up on areas of the body that have been exposed to sunlight. They tend to be darker in the summer than they are in the winter, and are seen in many colors, such as red, brown, tan, black, and even yellow. The freckles will tend to be uniform in colour with simple freckles, and more often than not are seen on the face.

Sunburn freckles tend to show up on the shoulders and back and are larger in size than simple freckles. They are also called lentingines and may have an uneven border. Some will refer to sunburn freckles as liver spots, but these are more commonly seen in older people or people who have been exposed to a lot of direct sunlight for an extended period of time.

Freckles and Moles

Freckles are often mistaken for moles and other growths on the body. Should you have any concerns, you should see your dermatologist to rule out those concerns. They rarely develop into skin cancer and for the most part are completely harmless. Do note the often times skin cancer will disguise itself as a freckle or a cluster of freckles. Should freckles be bothersome to you for any reason, such as looks or appearance, there are a number of laser treatments available the market that will lighten or eliminate freckles. Watch out for the old wives tales, such as the many home remedies that have never been tested or clinically proven to work such as such as rubbing lemon juice onto the skin to help fade them.  Some state that sour cream is also known to get rid of freckles due to the lactic acid found in sour cream.  The instructions there states to apply sour cream on the skin and allow to sit for a few minutes, then rinse off with water. The other one we heard is to apply buttermilk to the skin, allowing it to set for 10 minutes or so, then rinse off with warm water. Once again these methods have never been tested so we don’t endorse them. For real clinically proven freckle treatment, you may be more interested in one of the many laser treatments that are available. Please see our freckle removal treatment page for more information. Your comments are also welcome below.